Ben there, done that

Sir Ben Kingsley's love affair with India began in 1980 when he was shooting for Gandhi.

Ben there, done that

Sir Ben Kingsley's love affair with India began in 1980 when he was shooting for Gandhi. Since then, the bond has only grown stronger. He's all set to play another Indian heavyweightu00a0-- this time Shah Jahan and was recently in Mumbai raising funds for the upcoming project. CS got him talking about India, the country that keeps calling to him.

Wah Taj!
Last week I went to visit the Taj Mahal and was once again floored by its beauty and magnificence. Though I had visited the wonder earlier too while shooting for Gandhi, this experience evoked mixed feelings in me. But that's how life isu00a0-- things don't always turn out how you think they will.

WHO: Sir Ben Kingsley
WHAT: On all the love that India has bestowed on him
WHERE: Grand Hyatt

Even after all these years, the Taj hasn't waned in its glory. It is a perfect building. Shah Jahan used nonporous marble, which is why the structure has retained its sheen. It is remarkably well preserved. From the wooden foundation of the domes to the little leaning towers, the engineering to the mathematicsu00a0-- everything is simply perfect!

India connection
My first visit to India was when I was playing Gandhi. I walked out of the airplane in the cold October of 1980 and just soaked it all in. A lot of people panic when they come to India. However, I connected with the country immediately and was able to grasp its bigger picture. India has been very kind in accepting me as an icon, as though I were one of her own heroes.

And that acceptance has had a deep impact on my life and my performance as Gandhi. I know what it is like to face rejection too, and that experience is very frightening. When I was shooting for Schindler's List in Poland, the soil made to feel very unaccepted and even the genius of Steven Spielberg wasn't enough to put me at ease.

Bollywood calling
Having played Gandhi and gearing up to play Shah Jahan, I can't think of any other Indian characters that I would like to portray. However, I think it would be a great idea to make a film on Abdul Ghaffar Khan. I got to know the man briefly when I was playing Gandhi and was very fascinated by him. While Gandhi was this frail leader, Khan was a mountain of a man who was so influenced by the Mahatma.

While I haven't seen too many Bollwood films, I've been very impressed by the Namesake and Slumdog Millionaire. I feel that India's rich history and culture should be reflected in Bollywood. Your film industry is like Bharatnatyam that is so graceful, well balanced, and a blend of modernity and tradition!